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OPENING NOTE
Near the beginning of the chapter, in verse 2, Moroni tells us that he has a few words of "exhortation" for us. Exhort is a word we don't really use much nowadays but it means "to strongly encourage or urge to do something". So it's not just encouragement, it's STRONG encouragement. Today we're going to study the things that Moroni strongly encourages us to do at the conclusion of our study of the Book of the Mormon. So keep your eyes open for the "I exhort you's" or "I would exhort you's". That phrase comes up a number of times but I lump them into four major exhortations. His first comes in verses 3-7; the verses known as Moroni's promise. We talked about these verses in depth last week as we compared this method of gaining a testimony of the Book of Mormon with another found in Moroni 7. He exhorts us to read, remember, ponder, and ask God with a sincere heart, real intent, and faith if these things are true. Then, he promises, that the Holy Ghost will manifest the truth of it unto us. I believe and know that this is a meaningful and effective way of gaining a testimony of the Book of Mormon. f you would like a more in depth treatment of those verses, I strongly encourage you to check out last's weeks video from Moroni 7-9.
ICEBREAKER
But It's the second exhortation that I would really like to focus on for a bit her. It's found in verses 8-19. For an icebreaker, I like to do the following object lesson. It takes a little time to prepare but I've found the effort well worth it. Find a large box and wrap it up like a present. Ideally, It’s best to find a box with a lid that you can remove, but having your students unwrap the present could work too and be fun. For me that doesn't make as much sense since I teach multiple classes in a day. But what you do is place the present at the front of the classroom and ask the following question:
Whats the best Christmas or Birthday gift you’ve ever received? Then allow them to share.
Then: Why do we give gifts to each other? My answer, because we wish to show others that we love and care about them and we like making them happy.
TRANSITION
Well, our Heavenly Father also loves to give gifts to his children. But rather than sending us electronics, or jewelry, or toys, He gives us spiritual gifts, or abilities and these are referred to as the Gifts of the Spirit. At this point I would turn the gift around to show a label on the gift that says "The Spirit" or "The Holy Ghost". This is the source or power by which all the gifts operate--the big gift; the gift of the Holy Ghost. And how perfect is it that this lesson comes right at Christmastime, where gift giving and receiving is at the forefront of our minds. There are three major places in the scriptures where you'll find teachings on the gifts of the Spirit. If you've been studying with me since last year, some of this material is going to sound familiar to you because we talked about gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12 in the New Testament, and we'll be talking about it again in a couple of months in Doctrine & Covenants 46. And then you have what Moroni teaches about spiritual gifts here in Moroni 10. Each teaches similar truths but also has some unique things to offer. Today, Moroni is going to teach us 6 different truths about spiritual gifts. And as a teacher, I would give my students the following study guide and give them some personal time in class to discover the answers to 6 questions about gifts of the Spirit. And heads up, for the sake of the flow of the principles, you'll notice I don't quite do them in order.
GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT STUDY GUIDE
Who is given spiritual gifts? :17
Where do they come from? :8, :18
How many gifts are there? :8, :9-16
How are the gifts administered? :8
What is the purpose of the gifts? :8
How long will they last? :19
Bonus Question: Can you ask for more? D&C 46:8
Personal Application Questions
How have you been blessed by the spiritual gifts of others?
How have your own spiritual gifts blessed you and the people around you?
What gift of the Spirit would you most like to receive, and what are you willing to do to show you are ready for that gift?
No let's go through the questions one by one.
Question 1: Who is given spiritual gifts?
Everybody. Nobody is left out. There is not a single person out there who has not been given a special gift from God that is uniquely theirs. "They come to every man severally, according as he will". To come severally means that they come individually or each in turn. Every person is given an individual gift from our Father in Heaven. I'm a very visual learner so I kind of picture it like this--although, granted, it's not doctrinal. But I imagine a large line of spirits in the pre-existence waiting for their turn to be born into mortality on earth. Just before they leave though, Heavenly Father is standing there at the head of the line with a large bag of gifts next to him. They aren't given out randomly, but each has the recipients name written in beautiful calligraphy across the top. Each gift has been lovingly prepared and tailored to the specific needs of that individual. With a gift in his hand. He hands it to them and says "This is a special unique gift just for you from me. Please treasure and respect it. It will bring great blessings to you and others throughout your life. " He carefully hands it to them and off they go to mortality. I also picture each gift being wrapped differently and in different shapes and sizes. But everybody gets a gift. At this point, I sometimes like to add this question as well: Is there any way to know for certain what gift of gifts your Heavenly Father has given to you? And there is! Your patriarchal blessing will more often than not tell you what some of your gifts are. Another reason to get a patriarchal blessing if you haven’t received one yet.
Question 2: Where do they come from?
If there was a big tag hanging off the side, who would it say they are from?
:8 Come from the same God
:18 every good gift cometh of Christ.
So the tag says from your father, God and your older brother, Jesus Christ. And for this, I would actually make a little gift tag that says "From God and Jesus" and have it hanging off the side.
Question #3 How many gifts are there?
Answer: No. Verse 8 says that "they are many". There are many different kinds of spiritual gifts that God can give. Not everybody gets the same thing. So in verse 9-16 he lists what some of those gifts are. During this section of the lesson, I open up the big gift at the front of the room and I start pulling out little wrapped gifts or nesting boxes that I have inside. Each one is labeled with one of these gifts mentioned here. Some are given the gift of teaching the word of wisdom (and that's not referring to what we call THE word of wisdom, or the church's law of health, but wisdom in general). Others are given the gift to teach knowledge. Which I think is interesting that there is a distinction there. Knowledge as opposed to wisdom. Knowledge is facts, understanding, maybe even secular truth. Wisdom, I believe, is the application of knowledge, and the wise use of spiritual truth. Some are more gifted in teaching one than the other. However, both are important. Some have exceedingly great faith. I know of people like that, that just seem to have an innate sense of profound faith. No question or doubt in their testimony. They just know certain things. Other gifts mentioned here. The gift of healing, working mighty miracles, prophesying, the beholding of angels and ministering spirits. The gift of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues. Now that's a lot of different gifts, but is that all of them. No. I usually like to share the following two quotes:
“Spiritual gifts are endless in number and infinite in variety. Those listed in the revealed word are simply illustrations of the boundless outpouring of divine grace that a gracious God gives those who love and serve him.”
Bruce R. McConkie
A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, p.367-377
And also:
“Taken at Random, let me mention a few gifts that are not always evident or noteworthy but that are very important. . .
The gift of asking; the gift of listening the gift of hearing and using a still, small voice; the gift of being able to weep; the gift of avoiding contention; the gift of being agreeable; the gift of avoiding vain repetition; the gift of seeking that which is righteous; the gift of not passing judgment; the gift of looking to God for guidance; the gift of being a disciple; the gift of caring for others; the gift of being able to ponder; the gift of offering prayer; the gift of bearing a mighty testimony; and the gift of receiving the Holy Ghost.
Marvin J. Ashton
CR October 1987
So there are an infinite number of possible gifts that God has to give.
Question #4 How are the gifts administered?
Answer. In different ways. Paul put it this way in 1 Corinthians 12:4-6
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
Different ways, differences of administrations, diversities of operations. What does that all mean?
I think it means that there are many different manifestations of the spiritual gifts. So, somebody may have the gift of tongues, but there are lots of different ways the gift of tongues can be manifest, different ways that it's administered. A very rare manifestation of that gift would be to speak in the Adamic language. Another manifestation would be the ability to speak a language that you have never learned before. That happened to the early apostles on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2. Perhaps another manifestation would be an increased ability to learn to speak another language with ease and accuracy. Missionaries serving foreign missions seek for and appreciate that gift. Those are the manifestations that usually come to mind when we talk about the gift of tongues, but could there be any others? remember Elder McConkie saying that they are endless and infinite in variety. Maybe it doesn't always have to do with foreign languages. Perhaps another manifestation could be the ability to speak eloquently and skillfully in your own language. Another could be the ability to speak in a motivating and inspiring way. Yet another could be the gift to write in a powerful way. The Brother of Jared apparently had that gift. I know that my father was confused for some time when he received his patriarchal blessing as a young man and was told he had the gift of tongues. It troubled him when in his high school French classes and while serving his mission, he didn't feel like the language came any easier to him than anybody else. But, when he returned home from his mission and explored the option of teaching in the seminary and institute program for the church, he discovered he had an innate ability to speak beautifully and powerfully about the scriptures. He has a gift for it. I believe that's his manifestation of the gift of tongues.
I know of a young woman whose patriarchal blessing told her she had the gift of healing, and since she couldn’t give priesthood blessings, she felt she should go into medicine as a career. But she soon found that she was not really interested in becoming a doctor. Her passion wasn’t there, but she didn’t want to neglect her spiritual gift. Well all she really needed was a brief explanation of this principle that there are many different ways gifts are administered. One manifestation of the gift of healing is the ability to heal through priesthood blessings, and another would be to have a gift for healing people as a doctor or nurse. I would imagine President Nelson has that gift, but could there be any others? How about emotional healing, spiritual healing. As soon as this was explained to her she thought back on her life and reflected on the fact that people often came to her for help when they were struggling, and she was always able to counsel and comfort those individuals and make them feel better. That was her manifestation of the gift of healing.
While teaching this principle, I open up some of the smaller gifts that I have wrapped and reveal that there are even smaller gifts inside them labeled with some of the manifestations that we just talked about here.
Question #5. What is the purpose of the gifts?
According to verse 8. They are given to profit them. To bless and help them. In the New Testament, Paul uses the word edify, and in the Doctrine and Covenants the word "benefit" is used. The gifts are give to profit, edify, and benefit us. But, is it all about us? Are they given just o bless and and profit us as individuals? No. God doesn't want us to use our gifts selfishly or to draw attention to ourselves. D&C 46:9 says:
9 For verily I say unto you, they are given for the benefit of those who love me and keep all my commandments, and him that seeketh so to do; that all may be benefited that seek or that ask of me, that ask and not for a sign that they may consume it upon their lusts.
And then 46:12
12 To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby.
We are not meant to use our gifts to consume them upon our lusts; our own pride; our ego, or our selfishness. If we are developing and using our gifts to bring glory to ourselves rather than God or the church, then I believe that we will see their power diminished. We are given the gifts so that ALL may be profited. This is a joint effort, a team effort, each player contributing in their specific role with their unique gifts. Like a soccer team--you have a goalie, forwards, sweepers, those that excel on defense and those that excel on offense. It's not desirable to have everyone with the exact same skillset. But working together, with their combined efforts, they are able to accomplish their goals.
In 1 Corinthians 12 Paul really goes into that truth. He compares the members of the church to a body and each body part has a vital function to perform; something only it can do. And all the body parts work together for the benefit all. Every member has their place and unique contribution to make. Yes the gifts profit us as individuals, but more importantly, they profit the church as a whole. No member need feel like they are unimportant or unneeded in Christ's church. That's also why it's such a tragedy when somebody leaves the church or becomes less active. The church or ward loses the unique abilities and gifts that person has to offer. Somebody may come to the conclusion that they don't need church, that they don't need organized religion. And you know what, they may be right, they may be able to get by and still live worthily and maintain their faith without the church, but I would say, what has that got to do with anything? We don't go to church just for us and our needs but for the benefit of all. The church needs you. It's at least as great a tragedy that the church has lost them as it is that they have lost the church.
Question #6 How long will they last?
In verse 19, they never will be done away, as long as the world shall stand. So apparently gifts of the Spirit have a very long shelf life, at least as long as the earth shall stand. Also, they will only remain as long as we believe in them. Apparently we can lose them according to our unbelief.
Bonus Question-Is it Ok to seek for more gifts?
There is one more particular truth that I feel we should cover here. It's not taught in Moroni 7, but I feel it's important enough to include here. The question is, is it ok to seek for additional gifts. Maybe I don't have the gift of healing, or tongues, or discernment, or exceedingly great faith. But I want them. I feel I need them. Do I just sit back and resign myself to the gifts I've already been given. We know we're not supposed to aspire to certain positions or callings in the church, but is it ok to aspire to additional gifts you feel you need? The answer comes in D&C 46:8
8 Wherefore, beware lest ye are deceived; and that ye may not be deceived seek ye earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given;
So yes! I can seek for more! In fact, it's encouraged! I should seek diligently for them. We can add to our innate gifts with additional ones. I’ll give you an example of this. Personally, I don't believe that I was born with the gift of teaching. I really don’t. Not like my father who I feel is naturally gifted as a teacher. But when I left for my mission and since then I have really desired to become a better more effective teacher. I really want hat gift, and so I’ve worked at it and sought for it diligently in prayer, and I've learned skills and techniques through study and practice and I've sought help to learn from those I consider masters of teaching. And through my efforts and the grace of my Heavenly Father, I feel I've been able to attain a certain measure of that gift. They can come through our earnest seeking. We can all do this no matter who we are or what gifts we've already been blessed with.
LIKEN THE SCRIPTURES
How have you been blessed by the spiritual gifts of others?
How have your own spiritual gifts blessed you and the people around you?
What gift of the Spirit would you most like to receive, and what are you willing to do to show you are ready for that gift?
CONCLUSION
Well isn't our Father in Heaven generous! He has endowed each of us with individualized gifts and abilities that only we can offer. You are gifted. We are all gifted individuals. Well, since it's Christmas and gifts are already on all of our minds, I invite you to ask for a different kind of gift this year. Just like when we were kids and there was that present that we wanted more than anything else, and we asked and asked for it and on Christmas morning, ran to the tree eagerly hoping to see it there. Perhaps we can do something similar with a gift of the Spirit. What do you want most this year? Well, go ahead and ask for it. And if you are believing, I know those gifts will be forthcoming. Like a good parent, our Heavenly Father loves to give his children gifts.
ANOTHER WAY YOU CAN KNOW THE BOOK OF MORMON IS TRUE
Our third area of exhortation. A brief thought here from verses 20-29. He says a few more words reminiscent of Moroni 7 about faith, hope, and charity, but then speaks directly to us. I said last week that the Book of Moroni gives us two ways that we can come to know if the Book of Mormon is true. Well, that wasn't entirely accurate. There is one more way that we can come to know that the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and it's right here on the final page. Can you discover what it is in verses 27-29?
How else can I know? Well, Moroni himself can show us. If we have been unbelieving. If we've dismissed the restored gospel and the Book of Mormon, then one day we will stand at the judgment bar of God and he will present Moroni to us. Can you picture that? Jesus looks at us and says. "You didn't believe in the Book of Mormon right? Well, there is somebody I would like you to meet. Moroni, come over here. And here comes Moroni. This powerful, warrior of a man. And he walks over and stands right next to Jesus. And Jesus says: Did I not declare my words unto you, which were written by this man, like as one crying from the dead, yea, even as one speaking out of the dust?
That's a bit of an intimidating visual isn't it? What could we say in those circumstances? Can we deny then? Could we claim that the Book of Mormon was fiction in that setting? Pretty difficult to do that at that point.
Verse 29. 29 And God shall show unto you, that that which I have written is true. Well that's another way we can come to know the Book of Mormon is true. We can have Jesus and Moroni prove it's truthfulness by standing in front of us and declaring it. Eventually everyone is going to gain a "testimony" or knowledge of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. The question is, which way would you prefer to come to that knowledge? The "judge by the light of Christ if it persuadeth you to do good" way? The read, ponder, and pray way? Or the way described here? Declared to you by Moroni himself and Christ at the judgment. I'll take one of the first two please. We'll come back to this idea of meeting Moroni at the judgment a little later because he's going to bring it up again.
ICEBREAKER
Moving on to Moroni's final exhortation. Verses 30-34. At the conclusion of his record, what do you imagine his final invitation is going to be about. He's invited us to come to know that the Book of Mormon is true, he's invited us to embrace and seek for the gifts of God, he's invited us to contemplate our experience at the final judgment, and now, his final exhortation. Usually, in writing or speaking, your final words are what you consider to be most important; what you want them most to remember. And what you will find here, is a formula.
Now "formula" is a math word. And I'll be honest with you, I hated math in school. I liked history, biology, literature, PE, almost everything else, but not math. Math was created by Satan in my mind. I always struggled, it always took the most time, and it was by far the most frustrating for me. But I stuck with it and got all the way through Calculus in high school. I even signed up for AP Calculus my Senior year. However, I went in the first day, listened to the teacher explain the curriculum, and promptly went to my school counselor and changed my schedule. And I have never looked back. That was the last time I ever set foot in a math class. And you know what. I have no regrets in that. Good riddance to it. BUT! If there was one bright spot in my math experience, it would be formulas. Formulas are kind of cool. When you can just plug the numbers in and they spit out the answer. That's the kind of math I could handle.
Well for an icebreaker let's see if you can recognize these famous formulas and what they are for.
A=LxW That's the formula for discovering the area of a rectangle.
A=Pi(r2) That's the formula for discovering the area of a circle. Pi times the radius squared.
A2+B2 =C2 That's the Pythagorean Theorem that says the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle will always equal the sum of the squares of the other two sides. This theorem becomes very helpful when it comes to construction, surveying, and navigation.
E=MC2 Einstein's theory of relativity. Probably the most famous formula in history and helped scientists to understand the relationship between energy, mass, and the speed of light.
F-E+V=2 That, of course is Euler's formula for polyhedra. What's it's purpose? I have absolutely no idea, but a website I looked at said it was important, so it must be. I'm sure somebody much smarter than me could explain its significance.
TRANSITION
Well let's put the mathematical formulas behind us and do some calculating that I can handle a little better. Let's take a look at a spiritual formula. A gospel formula. Moroni gives us a powerful one here in verses 30-34.
SEARCH
And this is how I would put that formula.
C(L+T+S+E+L)=P(G+B)
As a teacher, I would put this up on the board and spend the lesson discovering and filling in the meaning. I would begin by asking what the C and the P stand for. The two most important terms there.
Let's start with the P here. You'll find that term in verse 32 and 33. And the term is perfection. I'm sure most of you are familiar with the charge that the Savior made in the Sermon on the Mount and the Sermon at Bountiful to "Be ye therefore perfect, even as I, or your Father which is in heaven is perfect". That verse has given a lot of Christians fits over the years. It seems like such an impossible request. How could I ever be perfect? We did discuss the meaning of that charge back in 3 Nephi and particularly examined D&C 76:69 as an aid to understanding it. However, these final verses of the Book of Mormon also help us to understand how such a request could even be possible.
How do we arrive at perfection. We need to do C. The three word phrase for that term comes in both 30 and 32. The way I arrive at perfection is by Coming unto Christ. I've got to make a commitment to follow the example and character of Jesus. That would be the simplest expression of the formula. We could write C=P. Coming unto Christ will lead me to perfection. But, we want to get a little more specific How is that possible? By doing the things found in the parenthesis.
And there we find that first we need to L= lay hold upon every good gift. It's what we talked about last week .Seeking diligently for all the good and true things by using our judgment with the light of Christ and then laying hold upon and cleaving to those things.
Also, not only am I going to lay hold upon the good things, I am going to T=touch not the evil or the unclean things. So if there is an environment, or activity, or belief, or book , or movie, or music that does not persuade me to do good and believe in Christ, then I'm going to touch it not. This idea is reiterated in :32 where Moroni instructs us to deny ourselves of all ungodliness. I've got to do more than just look for the good, I've got to actively reject the bad. I can't accept both. No man can serve two masters.
Verse 31 is a reiteration of both those ideas but in poetic form. Moroni quotes Isaiah here. Awake and arise from the dust, and put on thy beautiful garments, O daughter of Zion. To come unto Christ, I'm going to rise up from the dust of the world, from the unclean and ungodly, because I am not a citizen of Babylon. I am a citizen of Zion and I don't want the dirt of the world on me. I'm going to brush it off. I'm going to take off the soiled clothing of the world and put on my beautiful garments. What are the beautiful garments? 2 Nephi 9:14 "being clothed with purity, yea even with the robe of righteousness. We wear our righteousness. That's what will clothe us in the eternities. I will be clothed with the good things that I have laid hold upon and done in my life.
Then, the next part of the formula. I will S=strengthen thy stakes. I'll do this by serving valiantly in my callings as a member of Christ's church. I'm going to set a good example. I'm going to do everything I can to make the people of my ward and stake and community stronger.
Then, I'm going to E=enlarge the borders of his kingdom as well. How do I enlarge the borders? I proclaim the gospel. I look for missionary opportunities. I do temple work for the dead. I do everything in my power to bring other souls to Christ; to make his church, larger and stronger throughout the world.
Throughout all this, I am also going to L=love God with all my might, mind, and strength. How do I do that? John 14:15. If ye love me, keep my commandments. I'm going to be obedient to every request and counsel that God gives to me. I'm going to keep the law of chastity, and the law of tithing and the law of sacrifice. I'm going to make covenants, fulfill his ordinances, and strive to follow the counsel of his prophets.
If I do these things, then I can be perfected in him. I won't perfect myself. He will do that part. He will wash away the guilt, all the "I wish I hadn't's", the "I regret's", the "I should have's" , the "I'm sorry's", the "Why didn't I's" and fill us with confidence and peace. That perfection will come through two things. Through the G=grace of God, and the B=blood of Christ that was shed through his atonement. Through the power of those things, I will be made perfect.
LIKEN THE SCRIPTURES
A few questions to consider asking.
Which part of the equation do you need to work on?
Do you believe in and trust the power of God's grace and Christ's atoning blood? Why?
CONCLUSION
It's no surprise to me that the final exhortation of the Book of Mormon is a charge to become something. We've seen this theme all throughout the Book of Mormon. The importance of becoming even more than believing. Both ideas are covered in this final chapter, but the becoming is the capstone. I believe that if we fulfill this formula, if we work on it throughout our lives, then we will be able to experience a different kind of meeting with Moroni than was described earlier. The final verse of the entire Book of Mormon is filled and infused with hope.
34 And now I bid unto all, farewell. I soon go to rest in the paradise of God, until my spirit and body shall again reunite, and I am brought forth triumphant through the air, to meet you before the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah, the Eternal Judge of both quick and dead. Amen.
I believe that if we've applied and lived this formula, then we will have that kind of experience at the judgment. Such great descriptive words. Rest, triumphant, and pleasing. This is what the Book of Mormon was all about. It was written so that we could be instructed on how to become perfected, so that in the end, our eternity could be one of that is restful, triumphant, and pleasing. I want to be able to meet Moroni and say "I believed in your words. I am grateful for your words. Thank you for your incredible sacrifices to protect and bring us this record, I followed your counsel and came to a knowledge of the truthfulness of your writings, the writings of your father, and the writings of all of the Book of Mormon prophets. Their words enriched my life beyond measure. Thank you". Now that's the kind of experience that I want to have with Moroni at what hopefully is the "pleasing bar of God". I believe with all my heart that if we live the principles that we've studied and pondered and taught all year long, than our lives will have a Book of Mormon ending; a Moroni 10:34 ending. Rest, Triumph, Pleasing.
FINAL TESTIMONY
And that my friends, is the Book of Mormon. We did it, you did it. We have spent the year digging deep together through the pages of this phenomenal book of latter-day scripture. We've sailed with Lehi and Nephi to the new world, we've prayed with Enos in the wilderness, we've sat at the feet of King Benjamin on his tower, repented with Alma the Younger, fought alongside the stripling warriors, looked up at Samuel the Lamanite on his wall, mourned with Mormon, and wandered the lonely wilderness with Moroni. Most importantly, we've witnessed the visit of Jesus Christ, heard his words, and felt of his "one by one" blessings. We've made friends in scripture. For me, this year is the deepest I've ever dug into the Book of Mormon, as I've prepared these videos and pondered the messages and insights that I felt most inspired to share with you. Now, I feel that the best way for me to conclude this year's study would be to leave you with my personal witness of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. It's come to me in a number of different ways over the years. I believe that the Book of Mormon is true because I know that it's good. Every time I study it, it invites, it entices, and it persuades me to do good, to love God, and to believe in Christ. The light of Christ has made it plain for me to judge that it's good and of Christ. The principles that it teaches make sense to me. They are practical, relevant, and inspiring. When I strive to live the principles taught by the Book of Mormon, my life is better, I'm happier, and I feel closer to heaven. If that weren't witness enough, the Lord has also revealed the truth of it to me in the way that Moroni describes in chapter 10:3-5. Before my mission, I had been praying for years for a specific witness of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. I know I already had a testimony of it, but I was hoping for and praying for a powerful confirmation through the Spirit of its authenticity so that I could testify as a missionary with more strength. I vividly remember the night that confirmation came. I wasn't even expecting it. My plea to God for that witness had become a regular part of my prayers. But for some reason, that night was the night the Lord decided to answer me. After praying to know with a surety that the Book of Mormon was true, I heard within my mind and spirit the distinct words "It's real" spoken to me from some place other than my own mind. And that thought, that's it's all real, God, Jesus Christ, the Spirit, Nephi, King Benjamin, Moroni, they're real! filled my soul with a joy and a burning and a power that I had never felt before. I opened my eyes almost expecting to see the room filled with light. I knew that it was all real and true and good. After that experience, I didn't think that it would be possible for my testimony to get any stronger than that. And yet, it has. Much stronger. I have come to know more and more of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon year after year of studying, and pondering, and teaching it. Line upon line and precept upon precept my appreciation and understanding has grown and deepened. As a lover of great books, I have come to recognize the incredible literary power it possesses. I just can't believe that a simple farm boy from upstate New York with a third grade education could produce a work with such complexity and symbolism and theological soundness. If Joseph Smith wrote it, he must have been a literary genius the likes of Dickens or Tolstoy or Dante. It has that much depth to it. I know the Book of Mormon is true. If any of you listening out there have yet to come to that conclusion, those who have not yet joined our congregations, please do not be too quick to dismiss it. Make no mistake, it is literarily powerful, and this is coming from somebody who has a Master's Degree in English literature, and has seriously studied the great books of our world. I assure you that it is not a mere rehashing of Biblical writings, and this is coming from someone who deeply loves the Bible and has taught and studied it for 20 years as well. It has much to offer us by way of religious and theological understanding. I assure you that it is uplifting and inspiring and enlightening--and this is coming from somebody who has studied much of world religion, and from someone who deeply respects other religions, who has visited the worlds holy sites, and come to recognize the beautiful truths in Catholicism, Protestantism, Jadaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam. And yet, the Book of Mormon and the restored gospel it points to, have enriched my life in a way that is impossible for me to express. It has brought me closer to God and my Savior. Therefore, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, I bear my witness that the Book of Mormon is good and real and true.
